Multilayer Polymeric Bumper Structure for Tight-Radius Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elongated impact-resistant products made from polymeric materials often suffer from insufficient resistance to shrinkage along their longitudinal axis and inability to be bent around sharp turns without deformation, affecting their aesthetic appearance and attachment to a base.
Innovation Solution
Multilayered polymeric products with varying durometers, hardness, and plasticizer content are extruded or molded, featuring a first layer with high plasticizer content for bendability and a second layer with low plasticizer content for rigidity, allowing for secure attachment and deformation around tight bends without detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a single polymeric material is used to make elongated impact-resistant products, then the product achieves impact resistance, but it suffers from insufficient resistance to shrinkage along the longitudinal axis and inability to be bent around sharp turns without deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper is divided into multiple extruded layers with different polymeric materials, each layer having distinct properties. The first layer provides impact resistance while the second layer enables bendability around sharp turns, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability through functional segmentation of the single product structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite polymeric materials by combining at least two different polymeric materials in separate layers. The first polymeric material provides impact resistance while the second polymeric material provides flexibility for bending, creating a composite structure that achieves both impact resistance and adaptability to sharp turns simultaneously
2Strength
If the polymeric material is made more rigid to improve attachment to the base, then the attachment strength improves, but the ability to bend around corners without deformation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper structure is segmented into at least two extruded layers with different polymeric materials. The first layer provides rigidity for attachment while the second layer provides flexibility for bending operations, allowing the product to be bent around corners and then securely attached to the base without deformation
Solution Approach 2:
Composite polymeric materials are used with the first polymeric material providing rigidity for strong attachment to the base and the second polymeric material providing flexibility for bending around corners. This composite approach enables both ease of operation during installation and strong attachment strength in the final product
3Adaptability or versatility
If the polymeric material is made more flexible to enable bending around sharp turns, then the bendability improves, but the impact resistance and attachment security are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper is segmented into multiple layers where the first layer maintains impact resistance and attachment security while the second layer provides the flexibility needed for bending around sharp turns, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and strength through layered segmentation
Solution Approach 2:
Composite polymeric materials are employed where the first polymeric material provides impact resistance and the second polymeric material provides flexibility for bending around sharp turns. This composite structure achieves both high adaptability for sharp turns and maintained impact resistance simultaneously
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The multilayered structure provides enhanced impact resistance, resistance to shrinkage, and the ability to be bent around small radii without compromising attachment, maintaining a stable width and ensuring the product remains securely attached.
Implementation Method 1
at least two extruded or molded layers of polymeric materials formed into an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and being resistant to impact
Implementation Method 2
The plasticizers used in the body of the strip product typically comprise one or more of phthalate, adipate and polymeric plasticizers
Data Source
AI summary
An impact absorbing and resistant bumper comprising:an elongated body comprised of at least two extruded or molded layers of polymeric materials, the elongated strip having a longitudinal axis and being resistant to impact, the elongated strip comprising:a first body layer comprised of a first polymeric material having a first selected degree of hardness;a second layer of a second polymeric material having a second degree of hardness;the first body layer being extruded or molded such that it has a configuration taken along a section transverse or radial to the longitudinal axis that comprises a center aperture and a pair of recesses laterally adjacent the center aperture and extending along and through the longitudinal length of the elongated body.